Chapter 5 Section 3 Preview
Chapter 5 sction 3, The Supreme Law of the Land, is all about the Constitution and the from of government it created. This government that was developed was a republic, or government where citizen's elect thier representatives. This lesson is also about how the Constitution protects it's citizens and lists the general rules the people and the government must fallow.

The goals of our government are listed in the preamble. To form a more perfect union, to establish justice, to insure domestic tranquillity, to promote the gerneral welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. These goals make sure a better and united government is always used, to make sure we always have a fair way to settle disputes, to try to establish a place were people are protected from unlawful others, to protect citizens from other countries, to create conditions that will benifit all present and future Americans, and to give people the freedom to give us many liberties but also to limit them to not interfere with the rights of others.

The articles are a plan divided into seven groups which are the legislative branch, the executive branch, the judicial branch, the states, amending the Constitution, the supremacy of the constitution, and ratification. The legislative branch is the national legislature which is congress. Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress propoeses the laws. The exective branch is just the President himself. The President's job is to carry out the laws that the legislative branch makes. The judicial branch was created to settle disputes between states. To ensure the rights of the states are respected, each state must honor the laws of other states. Amending the Constitution was put into place because the Framers knew the future leaders of America would want to change the Constitution so they included instruction for making amendments in the Constitution. The last article establishes the procedure for ratification of the Constitution.

The Constitution also created ways to limit the government power so that one person doesn't get too much power. Federalism divided the power between state and national governments. the seperation of powers between the three branches of the government made sure that one branch doens't abuse it's power. Checks and balances gives each branch of government ways to limit the powers of the other two branches.


Chapter 5 Section 3 Vocabulary Terms
1. Amendments-
Changes
2. Federalism- The division of power between the states and the federal, or national, government.
3. Concurrent Powers- Powers shared by the federal and state governments.
4. Reserved Powers- Powers that the Constitutioin neither gives Congress nor denies to the states.
5. Checks and Balances- System that gives each branch of government ways to limit the powers of the other two.
6. Impeach- Accuse

Chapter 5 Section 3 Assessment pg. 131

1. Find the word posterity on page 125. Use the context clues to find out what posterity means.
Posterity on page 125 means descendants.
2. (A.) What are the six goals of government as stated in the Preamble of the Constitution?
The six goals of government stated in the Preamble of the Constitution are to from a more perfect union, to etablish justice, to insure domestic tranquillitity, to provide for the common defense, to promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
(B.) Compare the goals "insure domestic tranquillity" and "provide for the commonn defense." in what ways are these goals similar?
The goals "insure domestic tranquility" and "provide for the common defense" are similar because they both protect citizens from dangers like the unlawful acts of others and attacks by other countries.
3. (A.) What is the "elastic clause"?
The "elastic clause" is also known as the "necessary and proper" clause becuase the Framers wanted to give the government flexibility to carry out its work and change with the times.
(B.) Given that a national court system was created in the Constitution, why was the creation of the supreme Court so important?
Even though a national court system was given in the Constitution the Supreme Court was givin because the Framers wanted a national cour system to settle disputes between states. This cour has the final say in all cases involving the Constitution and important cases on which lower courts disagree can be appealed to the Supreme Court for a final decision.
4. (A.) What three principles limit the power of the government?
The three principles limit the power of the government are federalism, the separation of powers, and checks and balances.
(B.) How do these principles work together to restrict the government's power?
These principles work together to restric the government's power by making sure that the power between the states and the national government are sepperated, the power is also divided between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and Checks & balances gives each branch of government ways to limit the powers of the other two to prevent the abuse of power.